# Ask the comic guy.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415 "2003-01-09T01:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![Minor\_Irritant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Minor\_Irritant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minor_Irritant)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/581 "2003-02-25T02:12:57Z")
Okay, DKW, let’s see what I can do… Mysterio - the original, Quentin Beck, really did kill himself. He’s still dead. The Mysterio who’s appeared since is Danny Berkhart, who filled in for Beck in the 1970s. Kingpin - I think he’s back in the picture, after his son, Richard Fisk (aka the Rose) tried to have him killed. Vanessa Fisk killed Richard. Rhino - in the second part of “Flowers”, he ended up getting too smart, and had the doctor reverse the operation. He’s still around, having people pay him to run into stuff. Look for the second part if you can - it was a really great story. Venom - he’s been MIA for a while, after a brief, disasterous stint in the Sinister Six. Marvel’s putting out a new Venom series this year, so he’s coming back. The War Machine and Fury MAX series were out of continuity - Elseworlds, if you prefer. The events within had, and will have, no effect on the MU proper. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/582 "2003-02-25T04:41:51Z")
Mysterio- **Irritant** , where did you get that info? Not that I don’t believe you, I just haven’t seen that before. I hope that’s what it is. Kevin Smith (new kid on the block) wrote a great Mysterio ending and the next month John Byrne (old crotchety bastard who, lord knows, can do no wrong :rolleyes:) has him back in Spider-Man dancing around pretty as you please. I remember Mystie saying something like “ooooooh you never know what’s up with me…I’m a ghost…I’m a demon…boooo!” Granted, I (like every other Spidey writer since Byrne) have forgotten almost everything about that attrocious period of Spidey non-history so if it was explained there, I’m probably forgetting it. Kingpin- Check out the Daredevil dotcomics on [www.marvel.com](http://www.marvel.com) for the 4 part arc of Kingpin’s most recent demise Venom- There is a preview of the new series also on [marvel.com](http://marvel.com) dotcomics. Haven’t looked at it yet myself, but if it’s anything like the last series, I’ll be skipping it. [David Spade] I read the Fury TPB. It was pretty good. Grim and gritty with lots of gratuitous language and violence. But I liked it better when it was called The Punisher (or Preacher or any other Ennis book.) [/David Spade] ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/583 "2003-02-25T08:16:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asylum \* > **Add to this the common perception of comics fans and you have a medium that most people won’t develop an interest in out of fear of guilt by association. Your average fan can rip off minutiae about super-hero universes and that’s a level of devotion that most people find to be odd, about a topic that most people consider trivial. And let’s be honest, when you go into a comics shop most people in there don’t look like varsity football players; there are a higher proportion of people than the normal population who look like they couldn’t get a date if they were shopping in the produce section of the supermarket (and they’re probably wearing Wolverine T-shirts). They don’t have to make up the majority of comics readers (and I don’t think it should matter even if they did), but they do fulfill the definition of geek and that’s something most people don’t want to associated with.** That is a wonderful description of comic readers. I applaud your ability to generalize freely and without any consideration to things like facts. The “who look like they couldn’t get a date” line was very reminicing of the great scribe Bill Jemas, excellent work. \*\* > [@](#): > > In terms of the comics industry as a self-contained industry it doesn’t look too promising either. Since comics is the only medium dominated by a genre, fantasy, or to be specific its subgenre, super-heroes, that doesn’t allow for a lot of variability in terms of what is published. Yes, smaller publishers may print more stuff that might be considered mainstream (thrillers, drama, etc.) but guys in tights dominate the market and you can bet that Oni would change its publishing to super-heroes in a NY Minute if they thought they could get the sales of Marvel or DC. > > I fear that innovation is being choked out of the market. The majority of works that people declare to be innovative are still based in super-hero roots and are only exploring that subgenre, not breaking new ground outside of it (_Watchmen, DKR_). _Maus_ was a Pulitzer prize winner and yet I’d be willing to bet that ninety percent of regular collectors have never read it and quite a few have never even heard of it. If there isn’t a heartier demand for innovation then there won’t be any innovative books published thus causing a glut of derivative material, more so than you see in other mediums, and actually I think this has already happened.\*\* The market **is** super heroes. That’s a fact. What people buy are books about super heroes doing fantastical things. Very few comics outside that range have EVER done well. EC stuff in the 50’s, Conan in the 70’s, but rarely have series featuring anything other than heroes in tights made a noticible mark on the comics industry. Heores aren’t choking the industry, they _are_ the industry. \*\* > [@](#): > > Take a look at this link to a comics market share chart: [Diamond Comics Distributor](http://www.diamondcomics.com/market_share.html). Publishers who primarily print fantasy and its subgenre super-heroes control over eighty percent of the market. Also take a look at the top twenty published comics and the top twenty graphic novels: super-heroes comprise 95% of the top comics, graphic novels do a bit better with (by my count) super-heroes comprising only 50%. Once you toss in all fantasy and sci-fi though the numbers hit 100%. Not a whole lot of variety there. > > This also ties back into comics not being a medium desired by the average Joe in that if some guy walks in off the street into a comics store he’s not going to see a whole lot to interest him. Most people will simply be turned off by a lack of variety in their possible selection, and the fact that most of the available selection is fantasy won’t help matters either. Fantasy is decidedly uncool to most people unless it’s on a TV or movie screen. \*\* As opposed to when they were desired by mass audiances when? They’ve always appealed to a select market. Like Golf or Collecter Plates, they’re not going to appeal to every one, ever. And they shouldn’t aspire to. \*\* > [@](#): > > I also have to mention that the average age of comics readers goes up and the number of comics readers keeps shrinking. Your average reader is now in his mid to late twenties, whereas forty years ago they hadn’t even hit their teen years. This all by itself does not bode well for the future of the industry. > > This average age of the reader coupled with the tendency for the readers to be rabid about facts and details only makes matters worse. These two factors are what are leading publishers to print multiple issue, open ended story arcs that have to adhere to years of continuity. This means that if a guy off the street does walk into a shop and he actually picks up a book he’s likely going to be confused as to what’s going on (synopses in the front of books helps fight this, but the reader is probably still going to be disoriented). That’s not a reader who’s likely to come back. I could see this being fought somewhat if the industry moves away from 22 page comics towards graphic novels, and I suspect that one day we’re going to see that happen.\*\* Longer stories appeal to the average reader. You think lighter, shorter stories with no consideration for continuity will bring a younger, more willing to spend their audiance? Are you willing to wager millions of dollars on that? Do you think Marvel is? \*\* > [@](#): > > Now who knows, I could be completely wrong and the recent spate of successful super-hero movies may cause a huge spike in comics sales that shatters the old barriers associated with comic books. Or maybe there will be a giant surge in diversity that manages to overcome the geek stigmatism around comics and that will lead to higher sales. However, I suspect that any surge in sales due to movies will be temporary at best, lasting only a few years at most, and I don’t see any diversity surges in the near future either. > > Marvel and DC will never fully disappear as long as they hold the rights to such icons as Spider-Man and Superman, and comics will never disappear as long as someone has the urge to draw a story, however comics as an industry I suspect is slowly drawing to a close. \*\* They appeal to a niche market. They aways have, and always will. To expect them to be as big as TV, movies or videogames in the entertainment industry is idle dreaming. This attitude, of which I’ve seen much of in the online comic fan communities, is not rational thinking. Comic books can’t be “fixed” by trying to sell to the “cool crowd” or to kids or to middle aged middle class women. They can be helped by not propogating the “fat, teenage, pimply, geek-boy” that is not the average comic book reader. It’s that stereotype that stops people who do read the books from admiting that they do. Man, this idea that the people who spend the money that support the industry are what’s wrong with it. It’s a biased an unreasonable attitude that does more harm than good. Everyone keeps saying the industry is drowning, it’s been said for years. It’s still going on strong, Marvel stock is at 10$ a share compared to the 1.50$ it was at 3 years ago. Comic based movies like “Spider-Man”, “X-Men”, “Blade”, “Daredevil” and the forthcoming “X2”, “League of Extrodinary Gentlemen” “Bulletproof Monk” and “Hulk”, as well as the tv series like “Smallville” are showing that the _industry-choking_ concept of fantasy super-heroes are not only appealing, but a major attraction in the entertainment industry. Now, **Asylum** , this response may sound a little harsh, but I’m not personally attacking you. I’ve just heard these ideas bandied around the net for so long, and I don’t agree with them. Really don’t agree with them, and I don’t think they’re very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/584 "2003-02-25T12:04:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by New & Improved Scott \* > **Very few comics outside that range have EVER done well. EC stuff in the 50’s, Conan in the 70’s, but rarely have series featuring anything other than heroes in tights made a noticible mark on the comics industry. Heores aren’t choking the industry, they _are_ the industry.** True nowdays, but not historically. Superman was the best selling super-hero comic in the '40s and '50s but Disney (via Dell Comics) outsold Superman by something like 7 to 1. We’re talking print runs of like a million copies per issue (allegedly) Archie, Little Lulu, DC’s Humor titles (Fox and Crow, the deeply missed Sugar and Spike (where’s the Archive edition, dammit DC?!) ) all sold extremely well. Western titles (Marvel had several), War titles, Romance/Girl-Stuff books, the list goes on and on. It wasn’t until the mid '60s that the super-hero become dominant. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/585 "2003-02-25T16:14:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by New & Improved Scott \* > **The market is super heroes. That’s a fact. What people buy are books about super heroes doing fantastical things. Very few comics outside that range have EVER done well. EC stuff in the 50’s, Conan in the 70’s, but rarely have series featuring anything other than heroes in tights made a noticible mark on the comics industry. Heores aren’t choking the industry, they _are_ the industry.** Spoken like someone who really knows the history of the form. :rolleyes: As **Fenris** said, superheroes became dominant only in the 60’s, largely because Stan Lee was writing a whole bunch of fantastic superhero comics. And the 70’s, despite your claims to the contrary, had huge business done in the horror genre. But that’s not the point – superhero comics do not generally appeal to anyone but the couple of hundred thousand people already reading them. If we want the genre to continue, it has to cultivate new audiences, and most audiences aren’t that interested in seeing musclebound goons in colored underwear beat up on each other. But people (read: adults) are interested in the themes and ideas covered in independent comics – adventure, cop stories, espionage, romantic comedy, etc. They just don’t know that such things exist in comics form because, until very recently, you had to be a regular comics reader to even find them. (It’s loosening somewhat, now that the major book chains are creating graphic novels sections.) > [@](#): > > **As opposed to when they were desired by mass audiances when? They’ve always appealed to a select market. Like Golf or Collecter Plates, they’re not going to appeal to every one, ever. And they shouldn’t aspire to.** The very argument you make disproves your point. You say only a small segment cares about comics. That’s because you incorrectly think that comics = superheroes. Only a small segment cares about superheroes, but anybody can read a comic. As long as the medium and the genre are conflated (especially in the eyes of the fans! Oy!) then no one who is apathetic to superheroes will pick up any of the comics (like Whiteout, Three Days in Europe, 30 Days of Night) that aren’t superheroes and which they might enjoy. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/586 "2003-02-25T16:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > It wasn’t until the mid '60s that the super-hero become dominant. And I’d add that even into the early 80’s, the super-hero, while rising to a dominant position, was not overpowering. I have a DC Christmas Special comic from 1981 which contains 5 stories - one each featuring Batman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Jonah Hex, Sgt. Rock, and the collected DC horror comic hosts. In five stories, four different genres represented - and I suppose the Legion could arguably be said to represent sci-fi as much as it’s ever been represented since the genre’s heydey ended in the late 60’s. The massive shift of power to the super-hero side was noticeable (in DC, at least) by the time of the Crisis on Infinite Earths a mere four years later. The Monitor summons fifteen characters…all of the super-hero type…and they are the primary players in the first act of the story, with representatives of the other genres appearing together with them in a clearly subordinate role. What caused it? I’d guess the emergence of the comic book direct market. The big two began experimenting with direct-market comics…BUT ONLY WITH SUPER-HERO TITLES. This sent the super-hero fans to the comic shops to buy not only the direct-market books, but also books they once bought on the newsstand. Since the super-hero fans were a large portion of the newsstand comics sales, comics started showing a loss at the newsstand, and only the comics that could survive in the direct market - by now dominated by super-hero fans - continued to be published. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/587 "2003-02-25T17:41:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*True nowdays, but not historically. > > Superman was the best selling super-hero comic in the '40s and '50s but Disney (via Dell Comics) outsold Superman by something like 7 to 1. We’re talking print runs of like a million copies per issue (allegedly) > > Archie, Little Lulu, DC’s Humor titles (Fox and Crow, the deeply missed Sugar and Spike (where’s the Archive edition, dammit DC?!) ) all sold extremely well. Western titles (Marvel had several), War titles, Romance/Girl-Stuff books, the list goes on and on. It wasn’t until the mid '60s that the super-hero become dominant. > > Fenris \*\* Not true. Between 1938 and 1948, the superhero comic books were the top sellers. Captain Marvel Adventures and Whiz Comics sold over a million copies an issue during WW II. Superman was right behind Fawcett’s Marvel clan in sales for his eponymous title as well as Action Comics and World’s Finest. The superhero made the comic book popular and prolific from the point that comic books stopped being reprints of newspaper strips to newly created material. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/588 "2003-02-25T18:57:53Z")
On a much lighter note-- what was the deal with Dr. Strange- I take it that it designed was a horror book/superhero book. Man was that one bizarre comic. Was it just a bad Lovecraft ripoff, or was it well regarded? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/589 "2003-02-25T20:00:40Z")
**Archie Comics** have always been a top seller. Not a superhero publisher. (Ok, ok, they DID publish some superhero stuff, but let’s not go there.) Dr. Strange was invented by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko back in the early 60s’. I don’t recall their exact mentality in creating the character, but I recall something about them wanting a “weird” mystic element in the Marvel Universe. Strange is one of those characters who is well-loved but rarely done well. I think there’s been three Dr. Strange ongoing series in history, as well as his involvement in the three **Defenders** series and however many mini-series or specials. Both Dr. Strange and Defenders titles are inevitably cancelled (and hey, come to think of it, so are Namor and Silver Surfer books. Looks like **Hulk** is the only defender who can hold his own on the market). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/590 "2003-02-25T20:16:31Z")
elf6c: I regard some of the early Ditko-Lee Dr. Strange’s as some of the finest Marvels of the early 1960’s. Specifically, I am thinking of issues 130-141 of Strange Tales, where Dormammu furnishes Baron Mordo with incredible power; Strange then barely survives several battles with Mordo and his evil spirits, all while the Ancient One lies in a coma from Mordo’s initial sneak attack, occassionally muttering the word “Eternity,” Strange travels to a couple of other dimensions; finally enters the Ancient One’s mind to learn the secret of Eternity; Strange then meets Eternity; Dormammu and Mordo find the Ancient One; Strange outclasses a more powerful Mordo in a dule, forcing the Dread One to take a personal hand; and Strange then wins the title of Sorceror Supreme by beating Dormammu in a non-magical duel. Awesome stuff that is an inspiration to me as a Dungeon Master even to this day. I think the Frank Brunner Dr. Strange’s also won some critical acclaim. To the Marvel experts: Did Steve Englehardt write the issues where Strange battles the Silver Dagger? Mockingbird: You may be correct that the Big Red Cheese and Superman were the top sellers of the 1940’s and 1950’s, but other genres were very big in the comics market, especially horror, romance, crime and western comics. It doesn’t all have to be “long underwear” boys and girls. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/591 "2003-02-25T23:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*Not true. > > Between 1938 and 1948, the superhero comic books were the top sellers.\*\* I think you’re mistaken. I’m almost certain that Dell Comic’s Disney books outsold everything by a huge amount. I have nothing to back this up except a memory though. Do you have a cite? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/592 "2003-02-25T23:17:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > **To the Marvel experts: Did Steve Englehardt write the issues where Strange battles the Silver Dagger?** Yup. Marvel Premier (approx) #7-15, Doctor Strange 1-20 (or so) was Englehart’s run. And Silver Dagger was around Doc Strange #1 give or take. Great stuff! Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/593 "2003-02-26T00:16:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ResIpsaLoquitor \* > \*\ ***Archie Comics** have always been a top seller. Not a superhero publisher. (Ok, ok, they DID publish some superhero stuff, but let’s not go there.) > \*\* Archie Comics(Formerly MLJ) has published quite a few superheroes over the years. The Fly, Jaguar, and The Shield are a few of the heroes who have had their own title either directly under the Archie logo, or under a hybrid logo. ---
**Author:** ![Minor\_Irritant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Minor\_Irritant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minor_Irritant)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/594 "2003-02-26T01:39:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > \*\*Mysterio- **Irritant** , where did you get that info? Not that I don’t believe you, I just haven’t seen that before. I hope that’s what it is. Kevin Smith (new kid on the block) wrote a great Mysterio ending and the next month John Byrne (old crotchety bastard who, lord knows, can do no wrong :rolleyes:) has him back in Spider-Man dancing around pretty as you please. I remember Mystie saying something like “ooooooh you never know what’s up with me…I’m a ghost…I’m a demon…boooo!” Granted, I (like every other Spidey writer since Byrne) have forgotten almost everything about that attrocious period of Spidey non-history so if it was explained there, I’m probably forgetting it. > \*\* This character profile [here](http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/villains/mysterio2.html) mentions it. Byrne? Nah, he didn’t write Spidey recently. You must be thinking of someone else, because this “Chapter One” I keep hearing about _didn’t happen._ It just didn’t happen, okay? ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/595 "2003-02-26T07:30:49Z")
So as to not hijack this thread further, **Scott** , you can find my response [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=165718). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/596 "2003-02-26T15:00:27Z")
Has anyone here ever had a comic graded by CGA? What’s the process and how much does it cost? I’m looking to sell at least half of my collectiong and I['m willing to do it in grab bag form of like 6-7 mags/bag for about 2-3 bucks each just to blow them out the door, but I’ve got plenty I’d hate to give that treatment since I know they are worth much more. So two “questions” I guess: 1. What are your thoughts/experiences on CGA 2. What’s the best way to sell buches of comics? Ebay seems hit or miss since I don’t want to go through and grade all my comics (professionally or not) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/597 "2003-02-26T16:43:05Z")
Unless you’ve got a Southeby’s-quality lot, eBay is probably your best bet. I think things go higher in small chuncks of a handful of issues each – people are rarely willing to pay a lot for single issues (except very important ones) because the $3-$5 shipping raises the final price too much, and large lots of 20 or more typically go for rather small amounts per issue. You could also try going to a con and seeing if anyone’s interested – but only bring your best comics; no one’s buying chaff. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/598 "2003-02-26T17:20:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > \*\*Has anyone here ever had a comic graded by CGA? What’s the process and how much does it cost? I’m looking to sell at least half of my collectiong and I['m willing to do it in grab bag form of like 6-7 mags/bag for about 2-3 bucks each just to blow them out the door, but I’ve got plenty I’d hate to give that treatment since I know they are worth much more. > > So two “questions” I guess: > > 1. What are your thoughts/experiences on CGA > > 2. What’s the best way to sell buches of comics? Ebay seems hit or miss since I don’t want to go through and grade all my comics (professionally or not) \*\* It’s the CGC. Here’s their website. The process and prices are all there: [http://www.cgccomics.com/](http://www.cgccomics.com/) ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/599 "2003-02-26T17:30:47Z")
Thanks all for the Doctor Strange information! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415/600 "2003-02-26T17:37:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cliffy \* > \*\*Unless you’ve got a Southeby’s-quality lot, eBay is probably your best bet. I think things go higher in small chuncks of a handful of issues each – people are rarely willing to pay a lot for single issues (except very important ones) because the $3-$5 shipping raises the final price too much, and large lots of 20 or more typically go for rather small amounts per issue. > > You could also try going to a con and seeing if anyone’s interested – but only bring your best comics; no one’s buying chaff. > > –Cliffy \*\* As an individual seller bringing product to dealers, a con is not a good place to go. From experience working at dealer’s tables, I have seen that one will generally get a much lower price than if one went to their store. The chaff generally does move, because there are may who are looking for one odd issue, or a bunch of issues at a cheap price. And it’s Sotheby’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-comic-guy/147415.md?page=31)